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6 Tips for Hosting Outdoor Parties When You Have Arthritis

Don’t Let RA Crash Your Outdoor Gatherings

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Hosting a party can be exhausting even before the first guest rings the doorbell. Between cleaning, shopping, planning, and prepping food, there’s a lot of work involved, and when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you may already be running low on energy. But by planning ahead, getting extra rest, and asking guests to help out, you can can enjoy parties with RA.

There are other benefits, too. Getting together with your friends can ease the sense of isolation and even depression that can come from not being able to do what you used to, says rheumatologist Patience White, MD, professor of medicine and pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.

These steps will show you how to plan and enjoy these get-togethers.

Manage the Menu

“Have a lunch or snack party rather than a full meal,” Dr. Baker says. “Simple one-step dishes are easiest, particularly if you can prepare them ahead of time with minimal preparation.” Stick to cold foods that can go from fridge to table and be made ahead of time or buy precut veggies and other prepared foods at your local grocery store.

Make It a Potluck

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Inviting each guest to bring a dish is a fun way to approach hosting parties and allows you to share the workload.

Think of yourself as the orchestrator of the party, and enlist the help of friends and family to carry out some of the tasks. If it’s financially feasible, another option to consider is having your party catered — you get the fun of picking the menu without having to do any of the cooking.

Simplify the Setup

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Skip the fancy dishes and stick to lightweight, sturdy disposable plates and utensils for your outdoor party — easier to set out and toss when you're done. Another convenience is to serve buffet-style.

“Put out foods that guests can assemble themselves,” Baker suggests. Some tasty serve-yourself options are cheese and crackers, chips and dip, tacos, a salad bar, and ice cream sundaes.

Give Yourself a Hand

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Assistive devices can make preparing and setting up the food for your outdoor party a little easier. Use a reacher with a long handle to help you grab things high up in your kitchen, and rely on small appliances such as an electric can opener and food processor if you have RA in your hands.

You can also use lightweight, double-handled pots for any cooking you need to do. When you're ready to set up, load a rolling cart with the food and supplies so that you have to make only one trip outdoors, Baker says.

Start the Evening Well-Rested

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You want to enjoy yourself when you’re hosting a party, not feel like you need to sneak away for a nap.

“Plan well in advance and build in rest periods throughout the day,” Baker says. Schedule the party according to your body’s needs. If you feel fatigued after a couple of hours, try to plan a party that will naturally be done in a shorter period of time, like a cocktail party.

Another tip: Aim to have everything ready early in the day so that you have time to rest and relax before the doorbell rings and aren't running around frantically in the hour leading up to the party's start.

Create a Cozy, Comfy Atmosphere

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Make sure you set up seating that’s convenient for you. Have plenty of chairs and tables in a cool, shady spot.

Consider wearing an ice wrap or have a fan to keep you cool, Baker says. But don't be shy about inviting everyone to move indoors if it gets too hot and you start feeling fatigued. And start off on the right foot by wearing a comfortable pair of shoes and clothes that you feel good in, White adds.